California Will Not Set Vehicles Emission Standards Anymore

Donald Trump has finally revoked the Californian State’s right to set lower emission standards, undoing the good work that was done under Obama’s leadership.

Obama had allowed the state to monitor and manage their own emission rates, looking at their excellent track record and serious commitment to environmental concerns. The waiver issued by EPA then, to the California Air Resources Board in 2013 allowed the state to set stricter air quality standards than those imposed at the federal level.

Trump plans to have one set of national fuel economy standards.

California was accorded special status in the 1970 Clean Air Act, allowing the state to set its own emissions standards if it could convince federal authorities of the need to do so. Many of California’s antipollution measures have been adopted nationally.

Automakers are feeling extremely lost. Californian top officials feel this move is going to benefit Trump favor the big oil trade. Revoking the waiver is going to curb California’s influence over the car industry, something that Trump’s administration has been meaning to do since the beginning of the year.

Earlier this year, Ford Motor Co. and several other major automakers agreed to tougher emission requirements than those set by the Trump administration, giving them more certainty than other paths that were likely to result in prolonged legal battles.

None are happy with the move and at the moment, top California officials and environmental groups have pledged to take the legal route to stop the rollback